Crawford County, Iowa

Crawford County
County
County Courthouse, Denison
Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
Iowa's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42°02′14″N95°22′43″W / 42.037222222222°N 95.378611111111°W / 42.037222222222; -95.378611111111
Country	United States
State	Iowa
Founded	1851/1855
Named for	William Harris Crawford
Seat	Denison
Largest city	Denison
Area
• Total	715 sq mi (1,850 km2)
• Land	714 sq mi (1,850 km2)
• Water	0.8 sq mi (2 km2)  0.1%
Population  (2020)
• Total	16,525
• Density	23/sq mi (8.9/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	4th
Website	www.crawfordcounty.iowa.gov

Crawford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,525. ^[1] Its county seat is Denison. ^[2] The county was named for William Harris Crawford, ^[3] U.S. senator from Georgia and United States Secretary of the Treasury.

History

In January 1851, the Iowa Legislature authorized the creation of 50 additional counties in the state. Due to its lack of inhabitants, the designated Crawford County area was attached to Shelby County for purposes of revenue, taxation, and judicial matters.

In 1855 there were sufficient settlers, who petitioned for separation from Shelby. This was granted, and a county governing structure was established. ^[4] The county as then designated did not include its present western townships.

In 1865, four eastern townships of Monona County were separated from that county and incorporated into Crawford County's boundary. ^[4]

After several adjustments and reorganizations, the present arrangement of Crawford County townships was completed in June 1872. ^[4]

Geography

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 715 square miles (1,850 km²), of which 714 square miles (1,850 km²) is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) (0.1%) is water. ^[5]

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 30 – runs ENE across bottom of county. Enters at Dunlap, exits to Carroll County at Westside.
• U.S. Highway 59 – runs generally north–south through center of county, passing Schleswig and Denison. Its exit into Shelby County is five miles east of its entry from Ida County.
• Iowa Highway 37 – cuts the SW corner of county, running SE from Monona County to Harrison County.
• Iowa Highway 39 – runs north and ENE from Denison to Kiron, then into Ida and Sac Counties.
• Iowa Highway 141 – enters SE part of county at Aspinwall, runs west to intersection with US Highway 59, two miles above the county's south line. ^[6]

View of Crawford County and adjacent counties, with Dennison just above the center. Taken from the International Space Station on July 14, 2002.

Adjacent counties

• Ida County − north
• Sac County − northeast
• Carroll County − east
• Audubon County − southeast
• Shelby County − south
• Harrison County − southwest
• Monona County − west
• Woodbury County − northwest

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	383		—
1870	2,530		560.6%
1880	12,413		390.6%
1890	18,894		52.2%
1900	21,685		14.8%
1910	20,041		−7.6%
1920	20,614		2.9%
1930	21,028		2.0%
1940	20,538		−2.3%
1950	19,741		−3.9%
1960	18,569		−5.9%
1970	19,116		2.9%
1980	18,935		−0.9%
1990	16,775		−11.4%
2000	16,942		1.0%
2010	17,096		0.9%
2020	16,525		−3.3%
2023 (est.)	16,013	[7]	−3.1%
US Decennial Census [8] 1790-1960 [9] 1900-1990 [10] 1990-2000 [11] 2010-2018 [12]

Population of Crawford County from US census data

2020 census

2022 US Census population pyramid for Crawford County from ACS 5-year estimates

The 2020 census recorded a population of 16,525 in the county, with a population density of 23.1349/sq mi (8.93244/km²). 89.34% of the population reported being of one race. There were 6,855 housing units of which 6,255 were occupied. ^[1]

Crawford County Racial Composition ^[13]

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (NH)	10,625	64.3%
Black or African American (NH)	383	2.32%
Native American (NH)	31	0.2%
Asian (NH)	303	1.83%
Pacific Islander (NH)	4	0.02%
Other/Mixed (NH)	267	1.62%
Hispanic or Latino	4,912	29.72%

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 17,096 in the county, with a population density of 23.944/sq mi (9.245/km²). There were 6,943 housing units, of which 6,413 were occupied. ^[14]

2000 census

As of the census ^[15] of 2000, there were 16,942 people, 6,441 households, and 4,489 families residing in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile (9.3 people/km²). There were 6,958 housing units at an average density of 10 units per square mile (3.9 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.10% White, 0.76% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 4.59% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. 8.75% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,441 households, out of which 31.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.50% were married couples living together, 7.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.30% were non-families. 26.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.50% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 25.70% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 17.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 100.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,922, and the median income for a family was $40,231. Males had a median income of $28,696 versus $19,798 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,851. About 6.90% of families and 11.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.70% of those under age 18 and 5.60% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Arion
• Aspinwall
• Buck Grove
• Charter Oak
• Deloit
• Denison
• Dow City
• Kiron
• Manilla
• Ricketts
• Schleswig
• Vail
• Westside

Former cities

• Astor ^[16]
• Berne
• Boyer
• Kenwood ^[17]

Townships

• Boyer
• Charter Oak
• Denison
• East Boyer
• Goodrich
• Hanover
• Hayes
• Iowa
• Jackson
• Milford
• Morgan
• Nishnabotny
• Otter Creek
• Paradise
• Soldier
• Stockholm
• Union
• Washington
• West Side
• Willow

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Crawford County. ^[1]

†county seat

Rank	City/Town/etc.	Municipal type	Population (2020 Census)
1	† Denison	City	8,373
2	Schleswig	City	830
3	Manilla	City	775
4	Charter Oak	City	535
5	Dow City	City	485
6	Vail	City	396
7	Westside	City	285
8	Kiron	City	267
9	Deloit	City	250
10	Ricketts	City	109
11	Arion	City	97
12	Buck Grove	City	34
13	Aspinwall	City	33
14	Dunlap (mostly in Harrison County )	City	0 (1,038 total)

Politics

Like most of western Iowa, Crawford County leans toward the Republican Party. However, although it gave two-thirds of its vote to Donald Trump in both 2016 and 2020, it supported Democrat Barack Obama in 2008. ^[18]

United States presidential election results for Crawford County, Iowa ^[19]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	4,651	71.06%	1,812	27.69%	82	1.25%
2020	4,854	67.85%	2,220	31.03%	80	1.12%
2016	4,617	66.58%	1,991	28.71%	327	4.72%
2012	3,595	53.24%	3,066	45.41%	91	1.35%
2008	3,345	46.52%	3,715	51.66%	131	1.82%
2004	3,955	54.61%	3,220	44.46%	67	0.93%
2000	3,482	53.12%	2,838	43.30%	235	3.59%
1996	2,686	40.00%	3,140	46.76%	889	13.24%
1992	2,693	35.10%	3,004	39.16%	1,975	25.74%
1988	3,375	46.16%	3,868	52.91%	68	0.93%
1984	4,552	56.53%	3,396	42.17%	105	1.30%
1980	4,883	61.02%	2,500	31.24%	619	7.74%
1976	3,879	48.80%	3,903	49.11%	166	2.09%
1972	4,493	58.60%	3,018	39.36%	156	2.03%
1968	4,287	55.36%	2,851	36.82%	606	7.83%
1964	2,999	37.31%	5,024	62.51%	14	0.17%
1960	4,791	56.25%	3,720	43.67%	7	0.08%
1956	4,608	55.03%	3,749	44.77%	17	0.20%
1952	5,646	63.67%	3,107	35.04%	115	1.30%
1948	3,267	43.65%	3,983	53.21%	235	3.14%
1944	4,242	56.49%	3,218	42.86%	49	0.65%
1940	5,284	55.92%	4,130	43.71%	35	0.37%
1936	3,514	36.98%	5,720	60.20%	268	2.82%
1932	2,334	26.10%	6,084	68.04%	524	5.86%
1928	3,436	43.05%	4,495	56.32%	50	0.63%
1924	2,882	36.26%	1,255	15.79%	3,812	47.96%
1920	5,473	68.65%	2,151	26.98%	348	4.37%
1916	2,756	58.27%	1,919	40.57%	55	1.16%
1912	1,169	25.03%	2,193	46.96%	1,308	28.01%
1908	2,169	47.28%	2,322	50.61%	97	2.11%
1904	2,530	54.08%	2,004	42.84%	144	3.08%
1900	2,268	45.72%	2,578	51.97%	115	2.32%
1896	2,189	46.98%	2,396	51.43%	74	1.59%

Education

School districts include: ^[20]

• Ar-We-Va Community School District
• Boyer Valley Community School District
• Charter Oak-Ute Community School District
• Denison Community School District
• East Sac County Community School District
• IKM-Manning Community School District
• Maple Valley-Anthon Oto Community School District
• Odebolt Arthur Battle Creek Ida Grove Community School District
• Schleswig Community School District

Former school districts: ^[21]

• Battle Creek-Ida Grove Community School District
• IKM Community School District
• Manning Community School District
• Maple Valley Community School District
• Odebolt-Arthur Community School District
• Wall Lake View Auburn Community School District

See also

• Iowa portal

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Crawford County, Iowa
• Crawford County Courthouse

References

1. "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". census.gov. United states Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p.  95.
4. Crawford County, Iowa – Establishment of Townships
5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". US Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
6. Crawford County IA Google Maps (accessed August 27, 2018)
7. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
8. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
10. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
12. "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
13. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Crawford County, Iowa".
14. "Population and Housing Occupancy Status: 2010 - State – County". US Census Bureau − American FactFinder. Retrieved March 12, 2011.^{[ dead link ‍]}
15. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
16. Astor
17. Kenwood
18. Leip, David.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
19. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
20. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Crawford County, IA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 21, 2022. Retrieved July 21, 2022. - Text list
21. "SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP (2010 CENSUS): Crawford County, IA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 24, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2022. - Text list

External links

• Crawford County departments
• Crawford County Assessors
• Crawford County Ancestry File

42°02′14″N95°22′43″W / 42.03722°N 95.37861°W / 42.03722; -95.37861